- Ten local governments to receive a total of $250,000 to attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia
- Grants fund initiatives such as professional development and relocation costs
- Part of Cook Government's commitment to attract and retain childcare educators in regional Western Australia
Ten regional local governments are to receive a total of $250,000 in grant funding as part of a Cook Government program to attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia.
This is the fourth and final round of the Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Childcare Workers Program, which has provided over $1 million in grants to regional local governments to fund initiatives that help bring in and keep on early childhood educators.
The funds are used for initiatives including training, relocation costs, and travel allowances, as well as setting up traineeships and partnerships with local TAFEs to attract more early childhood workers.
Through a partnership with the Commonwealth Government, Shire of Christmas Island has also received $25,000 in Commonwealth funding through the program.
The program is delivered by the Department of Communities with the support of the Western Australian Local Government Association and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
As stated by Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"The Cook Government knows access to quality early childhood and care services plays a critical role in setting children up for success later in life.
"For early childhood education and care services, attracting a high-quality workforce can be challenging, particularly in regional areas.
"By providing grants to attract and retain early childhood education and care workers to regional WA, we're giving more children a stronger start in life and providing more parents the flexibility to return to the workforce.
"It has been fantastic to hear about the initiatives that have been delivered across the State as a result of this program.
"I want to congratulate the successful local governments and commend the incredible work that early childhood educators in Western Australia do every day in supporting children to thrive."
Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Childcare Workers Program 2025 recipients
Local government |
Project name |
Amount funded |
Region |
Shire of Boyup Brook |
Staff Sustainability: now and into the future |
$25,000 |
South West |
Shire of Perenjori |
Regional Early Education and Development Inc - Perenjori Project |
$16,985.07 |
Mid West |
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Early Childhood Education and Care Educator Awards Program |
$25,000 |
Goldfields-Esperance |
Shire of Collie |
Collie Childcare Workforce Development Program |
$25,000 |
South West |
Shire of Esperance |
Esperance-Ravensthorpe Professional Development Series |
$49,799.93 |
Goldfields-Esperance |
Shire of Gnowangerup |
Supporting Early Childhood Educators - Study and Retention Bonuses |
$25,000 |
Great Southern |
Shire of Kent |
Central Great Southern Conference 2025 |
$12,000 |
Great Southern |
Shire of Kulin |
Kulin Childcare Centre |
$21,215 |
Wheatbelt |
Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley |
Childcare Worker Housing Support Program |
$25,000 |
Kimberley |
Town of Port Hedland |
Annual Community Childcare Grants Program |
$25,000 |
Pilbara |
Shire of Christmas Island *Commonwealth Government funded |
Staff Development and Incentives Package for Christmas Island Day Care Staff |
$25,000 |
Indian Ocean Territories |
